Max watched the two geniuses approach through the crowd, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. The faint light from the basin reflected off the golden crowns hovering above their heads, their glow flickering like twin suns in the mist.

He knew better than to believe they were approaching him for a friendly conversation. Nothing about this gathering was ever simple, and among golden crown geniuses, every meeting carried weight, competition, and hidden intentions.

Still, curiosity sparked within him. He wanted to see what kind of people fate had brought to stand beside him in this strange trial.

The two stopped a few paces in front of him. The first was a man slightly shorter than Max, his build compact but strong, his features refined yet edged with arrogance that came from knowing his own worth.

The second was a woman with long brown hair tied neatly into a ponytail that swayed lightly as she moved. Her eyes were calm but observant, filled with quiet intelligence that seemed to weigh and measure everything she looked at.

The man spoke first, his tone casual but carrying the hint of a test. "So, you're the one. The genius everyone's been whispering about," he said, his gaze traveling from Max's face to his shoulders and then to the faint golden crown above his head. "The one who entered this domain with the lowest strength out of all of us, just the sixth level of the Legend Rank, yet marked by the golden crown. That's an unusual combination. Rare, even."

He paused, his expression musing, as if trying to decide whether to be impressed or amused. "What's your name?"

"Max," Max replied simply. His voice was calm, his eyes unwavering.

The man nodded slightly, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. "I am Grover," he said, extending his hand forward in a gesture of civility that felt both polite and deliberate. "It's good to meet you, Max."

Max studied the hand for a brief moment before returning the smile. He reached out and clasped Grover's hand firmly. Their grip was strong, unyielding, and though both smiled, there was an unmistakable undertone of challenge in the exchange.

The pressure between their palms spoke louder than words, a silent declaration that neither would yield when the time came.

Grover released his hand first, his grin widening as he stepped back slightly. "I can see why they talk about you," he said lightly. "You don't seem rattled easily. That's good."

Max turned his attention to the woman who had been silent so far. "And you are?" he asked.

The woman met his gaze steadily. Her voice was calm and even when she replied, carrying neither arrogance nor submission. "I am Tanya," she said. "From the Frosthammer Village."

Max nodded, the faintest hint of respect in his tone. "It's nice to meet you too, Tanya."

For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, golden crowns gleaming faintly above their heads. Around them, the murmurs of other champions rippled again as they watched the three marked ones gathered together.

The air grew tense, the atmosphere charged with invisible friction.

Each of them carried an unspoken understanding. Within the den of the Devouring Ants, they would not be companions. They were rivals destined to cross paths, each driven by a purpose that would not allow compromise.

"I take it that the two of you have chosen a different path than the Seven Divine Veins to reach this point?" Max asked, studying them carefully. His gaze lingered for a moment on their posture, their movements, and the faint aura surrounding their bodies.

He could tell that both Grover and Tanya possessed immense power, but their bodies lacked the density and raw force that came from pure physical cultivation. There was no wild, unrestrained vitality radiating from them like the kind that constantly pulsed within his own form. Their strength was refined and controlled, but it was also external, drawn from their energy and not from their flesh.

Grover smiled, his expression easy and confident. "Hehe, the Holy Nectar is a treasure filled with energy," he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "That energy can be used in more ways than one. You seek it to open your Seven Divine Veins, to awaken your body's potential and walk that ancient path. But for others, the nectar is a shortcut, a means to ascend to greater realms. It contains enough energy to push one's cultivation forward, even helping us break through the barriers that lead into the Divine Rank."

"I see," Max said, nodding thoughtfully. He had not considered that possibility.

To him, the Holy Nectar had been a necessary catalyst, a key to unlocking something sealed within his own body. But hearing Grover's words, he realized how differently others viewed the same treasure. What was sacred and irreplaceable to him might simply be a source of nourishment to others.

Grover chuckled again, the faint glint in his eyes betraying something beyond amusement. "Well then, I suppose it will be interesting to see how our different goals collide inside the den," he said. He stepped back, turning toward his own group of armored dwarves waiting nearby.

Before leaving, he gave Max one last smile. "Best of luck to you in there, Max. I have a feeling we will see each other again before it ends."

His tone was polite, but Max could sense the faint trace of competition beneath the words. The kind of challenge that only existed between those who stood at the same height.

Tanya lingered for a moment longer. Her eyes softened slightly as she met Max's gaze. "You should take care of yourself inside," she said quietly. "The den of the Devouring Ants is not like anything you've faced before. There is more danger in there than even the giants know."

Max nodded once. "I'll keep that in mind," he said.

She gave a brief, thoughtful smile before turning and walking away, her brown hair swaying lightly as she returned to her group.

Max watched them go, his mind already shifting to the trial ahead. 'They were awfully good. I had thought a battle would sure to happen if they came looking for me. But are they truly good people?' He sneered inside. He could see the greed in Grover's eyes from miles away. As for Tanya, she seemed to a hiding even more deep than Grover.

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